SHINE dinner

Well, last Friday, I joined the rest of SHINE fellowship for dinner somewhere in Woolloongabba (sp? Sorry, I can never remember how many double o’s, l’s and b’s are in that name XD), where a member of SHINE fellowship is a chef there!

I’d RSVP’d earlier that week to Michael, and added that I’d join in the carpool, which was to all meet up at Sunnybank Plaza somewhere before setting off. Only, I never heard back from him! It wasn’t until when I got back home from late night shopping at Garbo with my carer/life coach/support worker/whatever they’re called now :P that mother told me, “Oh, Thomas rang tonight and said he’d pick you up at 6:15pm then drive you to the restaurant.”

Come 6:15pm that Friday night, Thomas’s car pulls into our driveway. Inside is seated also his mother and little baby Karis! (well, she’s not really that little anymore, I think she’s nearing eight months!)

I pile into the car also, and Thomas drives away, but not to the restaurant! Nope, he goes to pick up Alfee, who lives near Pinelands Plaza.

By the time we arrive at the restaurant (which I’ve forgotten the name of, terribly sorry XD), it’s already pitch black. Alfee kindly lends me her arm to hold while we walk up some stairs to the restaurant’s entrance, then Uncle Kelvin Cham grabs me a seat while everyone else waits to be seated inside the restaurant.

Walking up the four steps, I spend the next five minutes leaning against the counter as everyone fills in some forms. When it’s my turn, the bouncer dude hands me the pen and book; I fill out my name, address and get handed a little slip of paper in return. Then, Alfee walks with me to some long table that’s been reserved for us under Michael’s name.

I sit down one seat to the side of the head seat; Michael and Anna sit to either side of me.

Browsing the menu, I note with interest that most meals are over twenty dollars! “I thought Michael said we only needed twenty bucks?” I asked Dr. Dr. Tai. “That’s all I brought.”

“Oh, no, chose whatever you want,” she replied, laughing. “I’m shouting.”

“Umm … why?” I wondered.

“Coz you shouted me dinner over at your place last week!”

Huh, that’s not a good enough reason. I make up my mind to pay whoever’s collecting the money quickly and deny Dr. Dr. Tai the chance to shout me. XD

Michael says the restaurant’s famous for the sticky pork belly, and that’s what both he and Dr. Dr. Tai order. Me, with only my twenty bucks, decide on the chicken schnitzel. But then Dr. Dr. Tai has a suggestion. “Hey, I wanna try some chicken too! How about we share?” Sounds good~

Our food arrives quickly, and after someone prays for us, we dig in! Thanks to Dr. Dr. Tai who cut up my chicken schnitzel for me, and Michael who poured my gravy all over my plate for me.

The food is delicious. I eat all my vegetables first, asking and gaining permission from Dr. Dr. Tai to dump all my cucumber over the plate. Sorry, but it tasted feral. XD

Dr. Dr. Tai passed me three large chunks of her pork belly, and after eating them, I can understand why Michael said they were famous for that dish, coz ‘twas simply scrumptious! Only, noticing that Dr. Dr. Tai had passed me three slices of pork but not taken any of my chicken in return, I spear the largest slice of chicken left on my plate and drop it onto hers. She looks up with surprise, and I order, “Eat. You’ve already given me lots of pork, but you haven’t taken any in return.” She laughs, then is a good girl and complies. XD

Partway through dinner, chef dude (huge apologies, I’ve honestly forgotten his name! ><”) wanders out and asks if we’re all enjoying our meals. I ask him, “What did you cook for us tonight?”

He asks back, “What did you eat?”

‘I had the chicken schnitzel; Michael and Anna here both had the pork belly.”

Chef dude considers for a moment. “Well … I cooked the vegetables on your dish!”

Ah, I had a point to pick with him, then. Pointing to the little green pieces lying on the tablecloth around my plate, I ask, “Is that cucumber? Normally, I like cucumber, but that’s really disgusting, sorry.” Chef dude peers at my vegetables, and then shakes his head. “Uh, nope, sorry, that’s not cucumber. That’s zucchini.’

Thank-you. From now on, I will know to avoid zucchini like the blazes! XD

As we near the end of dinner, Dr. Dr. Tai suddenly declares that she wants wine! Two bottles are promptly ordered, and I try some of each. The white wine’s a fail, coz it’s fizzy and I don’t like fizzy drinks, but the red wine’s a fail too, coz it’s simply REVOLTING! XD

But have you ever burped after you drink alcohol? It’s really weird, even your nose clears! ><”

After dinner, I ask Dr. Dr. Tai please to help me once to the loo. Dunno why the place didn’t have a disabled loo, but I manage fine by myself without a handrail. Dr. Dr. Tai kindly gives me some privacy by turning around and facing the door.

Back outside, one of the Chow sister’s is collecting money. I quickly pay, and then say triumphantly to Dr. Dr. Tai, “Ha, I’ve already paid for myself! You didn’t get to shout me!” She laughs and retorts, “Next time.” XD

Suddenly, a security guard/restaurant employee wanders over and tells Dr. Dr. Tai that all minors must be out of the restaurant by 10pm. I ask Dr. Dr. Tai, “What’s wrong with that? The youngest person here is Bernard, and he turned twenty-five in May!” She laughs, then answers, “You forgot baby Karis.” Whoops, I did too! XD

Dr. Dr. Tai helps me walk out to the entrance, where we wait for Michael (earlier, Thomas had told me that Michael would drive me home tonight. When he arrives, I climb into the front seat and somehow manage to buckle my own seatbelt without sight (the cruel and unfaithful God’s left me with crappy night vision, sorry). After everyone else piles into Michael’s car, I do a head count. “Driver Michael, are you here?” he laughs and replies, “I’m here.” Then I move onto the three backseat passengers. “Big Chow, where are you?’ another laugh, then Smoky replies, “I’m here!” Good. So I move along. “Medium chow, are you here too?’ this time, it’s Kathy who replies, “I’m here too!” Awesome. Last one, then. “And where are you, little Chow?” this time, it’s Vicky’s turn to laugh as she replies, “I’m here too!” so I turn back to Michael. “We’re all present and accounted for, Mr. Driver.” I tell him. “Please drive us home.”

And he does, driving the three Chow sisters home first (they live in Underwood somewhere, methinks) before dropping me back to my place.

And thus ends a great night out. :)

Next post here … should come next Tuesday! See, dad’s taking mother and I to Suncorp Stadium, and we’re all watching the Broncos match on Monday night! If we win, I’ll try manage a post on Tuesday! (If we lose, however, I’ll prolly just sulk and refuse to type up anything. XD)Righteo, until then!~

Cheers,

Em. ^^